Author Topic: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB  (Read 14812 times)

Masse24

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2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« on: February 17, 2020, 04:54:05 PM »
APRIL 2020 MSC

Deadline: March 10 at 9:00 a.m. (ET)

Submit your April responses here: The Bridge World - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB

BWS 2017 System: BWS 2017
BWS 2017 POLLS, CHANGES AND ADDITIONS: BWS 2017 - Polls, Changes, and Additions
  • Bridge World Standard 2017 (BWS or BWS2017) is effective beginning with the January 2017 Master Solvers' Club problems. This page shows (1) the results of the panelist polls that were used to adjust the system; and (2) the changes in and the additions to Bridge World Standard 2001 (BWS2001) that were made.
    In the listings of the questions and answers, an asterisk indicates the BWS2001 agreement; the proportion of the expert votes for each item, rounded to the nearest percent, is shown in brackets.


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« Last Edit: March 18, 2020, 01:33:12 AM by Masse24 »
“Kindness is the only service that will stand the storm of life and not wash out. It will wear well and will be remembered long after the prism of politeness or the complexion of courtesy has faded away.” Abraham Lincoln

Masse24

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2020, 11:20:43 PM »
I'll get the ball rolling . . .

PROBLEM A: 2 !H. And I do not like it. But I would open this in first seat, so it's an ugly game-force. Although 3 !H seems a good alternative (and probably is), I would want more "stuff" in the heart suit to make the invitational jump.

Did I say I do not like it?
“Kindness is the only service that will stand the storm of life and not wash out. It will wear well and will be remembered long after the prism of politeness or the complexion of courtesy has faded away.” Abraham Lincoln

jcreech

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2020, 11:36:46 AM »

PROBLEM A:

Did I say I do not like it?

I wholeheartedly agree!  I was toying with a forcing no trump, with the intent of jumping in heats to suggest a poorish six-bagger and invitational values.  However, I am unsatisfied with my rebid options if partner (not unexpectedly) rebids 2 !S.  I suppose I could rebid 2NT - that should suggest only a stiff spade because I could raise now with two. 

In other words, at the table I would choose either 3 !H or 1NT, because I can't wait several weeks to make a decision.  Here, I can afford additional thought, and I am not ready to decide.  The big difference is at the table I have a partner that I know something about their style of opening bids; in MSC, my partner is how 30+ other people view their own amalgamation of partners.  Therefore, I am not ready yet, and am not happy about the problem.
A stairway to nowhere is better than no stairway at all.  -Kehlog Albran

blubayou

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2020, 01:17:18 PM »
It's small wonder that the early offerings covered problem A,  and left it at that!   I am finding not a thing to get on a soap box over on any of the other problems in this miserable set:(  ( Well-  maybe problem D has potential.)  If lightning strikes me in the next 18 days,  it had better do it 7 times, or i am a cooked goose,  but here goes...
A:  2 hearts      -  No rebidding problems in the quizz, eh?
B:  1 diamond  -  3 or 4 miserable choices--pick one
C:  pass           -  forced upon us by the system note, though 50 of my Boomer friends are spinning in their grave over it.
D:  4 hearts  -  now, we're talking folks!   only 4 spades and 5 spades  came to mind, then i recalled the suprize winner from last month--a lead  directing advance of partner's noise in a four-bagger.  I reject "3H" because it's not jamming enough
E:  1NT            - pick one again
F:  3NT            -  ditto ,  this time four ungeussable choices,  including leave in the double
G:  2 hearts     - gonna let your 5-3-2  spots frighten you?
H:  spade 10   - no confidence
« Last Edit: February 23, 2020, 10:51:01 PM by blubayou »
often it is better to beg forgiveness, than ask permission

jcreech

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2020, 11:55:04 PM »
Blu, you may have described Todd’s motivation, perhaps even Ken’s, but not mine.  I only addressed the one problem because Todd brought it up, and so I looked at that one problem.  Up until earlier today, when I went through the all of the problems, I had not looked at, much less considered any of the other problems.  I waited until after my class to begin in earnest.

My initial thoughts:

Problem A:  1NT – With no known fit, I don’t want to treat this as a game force.  There my choices are limited to invitational sequences.  If my hearts were KQTxxx, then I would make the immediate 3 !H bid; it places the emphasis squarely on the heart suit.  Since my suit is actually K9xxxx, I will start with a forcing NT to send a warning to partner to tread lightly, my hand has some flaw.  In addition, I get to learn a bit more about partner’s hand in the process, before I make my rebid.

Problem B:  Pass – A cheesy 11 in 3rd seat with only 13 casino points – NO THANK YOU.  I pass with no second choice.

Problem C:  4 !C – Without the note, I would bid 3 !C without much thought.  With the note, do I lie, taking a chance that partner does not have a 3NT conversion?  Do I pass, leaving the auction wide open for the opponents to enter cheaply?  Or do I jump to 4 !C and lie about my club length?  At this vulnerability, I feel like the least lie is to bid 4 !C, plus it difficult for the opponents to find the right strain and level.

Problem D:  3 !C – My first inclination was to bid 4 !S and just jam the auction, then I got an evil thought.  This might be a good hand to mess with the auction some.  With East showing no long suit, and West a powerful hand, I think they are headed for a suit contract.  On the off chance, the suit is not clubs, I bid 3 !C as a lead director so I can ruff, then when if I get doubled, I will go to 3 !H, to help set the defense if they end up in NT, and then when doubled again, then I finally run to 4 !S.  If we defend, then partner will have to work out what all my bidding was about, but the final contract should help.

Problem E:  1NT – I do not like any of my options.  Rebidding a ratty Q8xxxx is not appealing, and neither is bidding 1NT with a stiff club.  1NT becomes more appealing after reading the note; the chance that the club suit is real increases significantly when the spade rebid denies a 4-3-3-3 type hand.  At least 1NT limits my hand and gives partner a chance to show delayed heart support if warranted.

Problem F:  4 !S – 3 !S feels wimpy, 3NT feels right (but there may be an entry to RHO, which may make the hand go horribly wrong, while 4 !S feels like a slight overbid.  Partner created this bid with a direct seat double, so if they don’t have their bid, then so be it.  I will give myself an additional point for having the fifth spade in a suit that partner hopefully also has four.  By regarding my hand this way, 4 !S no longer feels so much like an overbid. 

Problem G:  Pass – I really want to double to show both round suits.  Unfortunately, that is an inadmissible bid.  I don’t have a stopper for NT, I don’t have a third spade to raise, and I don’t have enough points to bid freely at the two level (not frightened of !H 532, but do not want to over promise when I bid at this level), so that leaves an unsatisfactory pass, and the hope for a reopening bid from lefty.

Problem H: !S T – Dummy’s second suit.  There is an unbid suit, clubs, but my holding does not look good to lead.  Nonetheless, if I were at the table in a desperate situation, I’d be very tempted to try the !C Q as a maybe I can strike gold attempt.
A stairway to nowhere is better than no stairway at all.  -Kehlog Albran

Masse24

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2020, 01:10:27 AM »
Getting the ball rolling may have been my motivation.

I probably should have mentioned it.  ;)
“Kindness is the only service that will stand the storm of life and not wash out. It will wear well and will be remembered long after the prism of politeness or the complexion of courtesy has faded away.” Abraham Lincoln

jcreech

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2020, 12:38:04 PM »
I may have to rethink Problem B.  I was kibitzing a hand that made me think of this problem hand.

!S 93
!H AQ96
!D KT65
!C Q62

This hand, with identical shape, HCPs and third seat decision, opened 1 !D.  The full auction:

P      P    1 !D    X
XX    P     P     1 !S
1NT   P    P     2 !C
2 !D   P    P       P

Below is a link to the full hand, but 2 !D makes with an overtrick, while the opponents were talked out of their cold spade game.  Even with no defensive help, all it takes is giving up on dropping the !C Q by playing small toward the T9x in dummy to create a sure entry, then once in dummy, lead toward the !H K. 

https://tinyurl.com/u3756rx

Edited to remove the names.
« Last Edit: February 25, 2020, 09:17:30 PM by jcreech »
A stairway to nowhere is better than no stairway at all.  -Kehlog Albran

kenberg

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2020, 04:01:20 PM »
I have only looked at the first two.

A: BWS stipulates (I had to look it up) that 1 !S - 1NT - 2 !D - 3 !H is a strong raise in diamonds. With clubs it's different.  After 1 !S - 1NT - 2 !C a call of 2 !D is Bart, showing, or they say suggesting, five hearts.
What I would like, with this hand, is for 1 !S - 1NT - 2m - 3 !H to show a hand like this, so that 1 !S - 3 !H could show a similar strength and shape but with the values more concentrated in the hearts, so that partner with good values and a stiff heart can trust that heart suit is productive. 
But that's not the system. So I think I go with 2 !H. A bit optimistic.

B: Pass for me. Shading a point or so in a third hand opening when holding a decent five card major is fine, but a shaded 1 !D on on !D Jxxx? Not my style.

I'll get back for more later.

Added: You can find a few words about BART at https://www.larryco.com/bridge-articles/bart
The main point, for hand A, is that after you bid 1NT there is at least a possibility partner will respond 2 !D, after which 3 !H would show diamonds, not hearts. Not good. I have never played BART but I think those who do try to not respond 2 !D to 1NT, possibly making 1NT more workable.
 Anyway, I go with  2 !H  for A.
And now I just looked up BART in Washington Standard and, as I thought, opener respond to the forcing NT with 2 !C when holding 5=3=3=2 shape. If that is the way BWS does it then 1NT might be safe enough.
« Last Edit: February 24, 2020, 05:39:40 PM by kenberg »
Ken

jcreech

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2020, 12:01:36 PM »
I am giving additional thought to Problem B.    Its funny how a recent result can color your perspective.

With both hands, you are sitting in third seat, all white, with the decision to open holding:
Problem B:   !S K5  !H Q853  !D J652 !C KQT  vs. recent hand  !S 93 !H AQ96 !D KT65 !C Q63

Both have the same shape, HCPs, and LTC.  Qualitatively, I like the recent hand a bit better because the concentration of values is more in the long suits, but in all other ways, the two hands are roughly equivalent.

To me, both are clear passes.  However, the recent hand did open at the table, and in the process (along with their partner), talked a strong player from, not only missing their cold game, but not even bidding past the two level.  The full auction P-P-1 !D-X; XX-P-P-1 !S; 1NT-P-P-2 !C; 2 !D-P-P-P.

So I ran a poll, using the recent hand, with Bridge Winners, and after 41 votes, 28 chose to open.  16 of those 28 did go with 1 !H, which makes sense holding AQxx, but that 68% would open gives me pause to wonder if I am being too hasty with my pass on Problem B.

No decision on the problem hand, but am providing information as food for thought.
« Last Edit: February 25, 2020, 12:23:13 PM by jcreech »
A stairway to nowhere is better than no stairway at all.  -Kehlog Albran

kenberg

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2020, 02:47:35 PM »
My views:
A. I am not opening 1 !H. I am just not.
B. If I open 1 !D then a likely response is 1 !S. So I rebid 1NT. I am light for this. Or I open 1 !D, partner has a balanced 11 count or maybe a good balanced 10 count and so bids 2NT. Maybe he will make it but we are a bit high.
C. Quite possibly the auction will turn competitive. Do I relish competing in diamonds? Not really. If the opponents but the hand do I want a diamonds lead? Probably not particularly, although it is  the best lead against the sample played hand that you show.

The sample hand (you should probably edit out the names) has a ten count with a strong five card diamond fit.  Well that's great. Also a good deal more than I would expect.

Oddly, opening the sample had 1 !D is probably the best way to beat 4 !S. If pard leads the !D A against a spade contract it is true that they can make ten tricks but you need to play it just right. [Added: As I recall the hands, I think 4 !S would go down on a !D lead. ]

Anyway, opening 1 !S light, but on five cards, in third seat is a lot different. Three spades in pard's hand is enough, 2 might  be enough, you have Drury available to sort things out and so on. It crowds the bidding when it is their hand, and you are more likely to want a spade lead. Opening 1 !D with either B or with the sample played hand will work sometimes, but not all that often in my experience.

So I pass. And if I am voted down by the BWS panel, I still pass.

« Last Edit: February 25, 2020, 06:31:23 PM by kenberg »
Ken

Masse24

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #10 on: February 25, 2020, 04:02:24 PM »
PROBLEM B:

I agree, I'm not opening 1 !D. And I'm not opening 1 !H. Like Ken: "Just not." Not with this hand. Not with such complete garbage in the red suits. I would, with the "recent hand" Jim mentioned, strongly consider opening 1 !H.

The majority will likely opt for a simple pass with such an ugly hand. Ken mentions that the auction will likely turn competitive. So . . . I would strongly consider opening 1 !C (a possible lead director) with those honors.

So it's between 1 !C and Pass for me.
« Last Edit: February 25, 2020, 04:08:16 PM by Masse24 »
“Kindness is the only service that will stand the storm of life and not wash out. It will wear well and will be remembered long after the prism of politeness or the complexion of courtesy has faded away.” Abraham Lincoln

jcreech

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #11 on: February 25, 2020, 05:15:56 PM »
Ken,

The 10 count with five diamonds, passed initially, then redoubled and finally raised diamonds at the 2 level.  It was the third seat that opened with 2-4-4-3 11 count.  But do not count out that my first inclination was



Problem B:  Pass – A cheesy 11 in 3rd seat with only 13 casino points – NO THANK YOU.  I pass with no second choice.


« Last Edit: February 25, 2020, 05:22:25 PM by jcreech »
A stairway to nowhere is better than no stairway at all.  -Kehlog Albran

kenberg

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #12 on: February 25, 2020, 06:33:34 PM »
Yes, on the played hands the opining diamond bid was on the four card suit.  Although I do not recall the hands exactly, I now think 4 !S would go down on an opening !D lead.

But anyway, back to B. I pass.
Ken

jcreech

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #13 on: February 25, 2020, 09:24:29 PM »
I have restored the link (without the identifying nics).

You are right, Ken, about the hand going down on diamond leads.  An unlikely play is needed to give the contract a chance - lead toward the T9x of clubs, and East has to continue diamonds when in with the club and hop with the HA to lead another diamond.
« Last Edit: March 01, 2020, 12:28:55 PM by jcreech »
A stairway to nowhere is better than no stairway at all.  -Kehlog Albran

hoki

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Re: 2020 April - MASTER SOLVERS CLUB
« Reply #14 on: March 01, 2020, 10:53:48 AM »
PROBLEM A: 2 !H. And I do not like it.
Did I say I do not like it?
I chose 1NT, planning to bid 3 next - but then I could have bid 3 anyway according
to BWS since that gives the same message. The only advantage of 1NT is that partner's
rebid might be illuminating. If the hand is a misfit I really don't want to be in game, which
is why I didn't choose 2, but hey - you didn't like that bid anyway.  :)

PS Thanks for the info that my planned rebid of 3H over 2D shows good diamond support.
That's a new one on me, so looks like I'll have to tread softly on this site. A pity we can't
use bids that mean what they say.
« Last Edit: March 01, 2020, 11:01:43 AM by hoki »